While researching Rounds Re-Sounding, I came across references
to several "Catch Clubs" of eighteenth, nineteenth, and even twentieth
century England. They were traditionally for "gentlemen" who met
to sing rounds, catches, and canons. The singing was accompanied by ample
consuming of spirits. The bawdiness of many was both applauded and decried.
There was, however, a noticeable delicacy prevailing at the Catch Club
on "ladie's nights." From 1763 to 1794, rounds and catches submitted to
the club's contests were diligently published in the Warren Collection,
an important contribution to Georgian music. Many of the compositions
are quite long and involved.

After tracking down a slim lead, I contacted an older English member
in 1986, who wrote back that the clubs were all virtually defunct, though
he declared me an ":honorary member" for my work on the subject of rounds
and canons. On the American continent, there had been the Catch Society
of America, founded in 1969, which published journals during it's
active days, but has been inactive since 1975. Feedback from buyers of
my book indicates there are individual choruses in various communities
who have a particular interest in singing rounds.

In 1987, I founded the Rounds Re-Sounding Society as a concept,
rather than as a dues-paying organization. Along with it, I established
Rounds
Re-Sounding Day, now mentioned on many events calendars. It's
purpose is "to sing rounds, catches, and canons in folk contrapuntal tradition."
The motto is "As rounds re-sound and resound, all the world's joined in
a circle of harmony."

Rounds Re-Sounding Day is August 1, annually - a do-it-yourself
holiday. If you enjoy the unique contrapuntal music of rounds, get
a group together and make some merry music.

Rounds Re-Sounding: Circular Music for Voices and Instruments; An Eight-Century Referencewas first published by McFarland
Publishers in 1987. After a good thirteen-year run,
it went out of print. It was immediately picked up in 2001 by the Authors
Guild Back-in-Print Books, published through iUniverse. Paperback; available on the internet
at all major online book dealers, including iUniverse.com.

A limited number of first editions
are available:hardcover, 8 1/2" x 11", 329 pp.,
acid-free-paper, autographed.